Question: Marc, I want a coffee that has a nutty flavor without being bitter or acidy. Every time I try a new coffee, it still seems to have a bitter taste and not smooth and boastful. I use a Proctor Silex (not an expensive machine) I use cold water from the tap. Should I use distilled or water from the frig. Does the filter have something to do with it. Can you suggest anything so that I can enjoy a good cup of coffee. – Judith

Answer: Hello Judith, if you’re looking for a coffee that is nutty and smooth without being bitter, I suggest starting with the Latin American coffees. Try a freshly-roasted Costa Rican coffee or my personal favorite, a Guatemalan. My personal opinion is that a coffee has an initially nutty flavor shortly after it’s been roasted, or at least that’s been my experience roasting my own beans at home. To get freshly-roasted beans, you will need to visit a local roaster or else try one of the chains like Starbucks. The problem with the chains is that you don’t always know how recently it was roasted but you can’t do worse than the grocery store, even if they do sell single-source coffees like the two I’ve suggested above.

If a local coffee roaster is not accessible, click here to visit Starbucks Store online, they ship a wider variety of Starbucks coffees than most individual locations carry in the store.

For water, I definitely suggest using filtered water. I have a Brita pitcher in the fridge and use only that water for brewing. Coffee is 99% water so you want to make sure you get that ingredient (and of course, the coffee itself) right. I hope this helps and I’d love to hear back from you.